Saddle and saddle construction



April 6, 1943. E. STEELE 2,315,487

SADDLE AND SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1, 1941 E INVENTOR Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in saddles and saddle construction, and has for its objects,

First, to provide an attachment to a saddle tree whereby stirrup supports are provided which enable the stirrups to swing freely from the normal riding position to a maximum forward position;

Second, to provide a combination strainer iron and means for supporting pivotally swinging stirrup mounting members;

A third object is to provide a device which may be attached to a saddle tree in the course of constructing a saddle which will provide swinging clevis supports for stirrup leathers, having the axis of pivot forward of the center of the seat and being positioned above the tree rails;

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I attain these objects by the devices and construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a saddle tree to which my device has been attached;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse section drawn on an enlarged scale and taken substantially on line 3-3, Figure 2, with the position of the tree rails shown in dotted outline, and the forward strainer shown in its correct relative position;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the combined strainer iron and stirrup clevis support;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the stirrup leather clevises;

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof as viewed from the center of the saddle tree outward;

Figure 7 is an outside side elevation thereof;

Figure 8 is an end elevation thereof; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of a forward strainer iron.

In Figures 1 and 2, 2 indicates a saddle tree of the usual construction, being composed of rawhide stretched over a wooden frame. In this construction 3 indicates the cantle, 4 the pommel, and 5 and 6 the rails. A space between the rails indicated by numeral 1 terminates in the gullet 8, as is common with the construction of trees of this type.

The common method of attaching stirrup leathers is to loop or bend the upper fold of the leather over the rails at approximately the position indicated by numeral 9. The lower leather of this loop then comes out beneath the rail and over the rigging. In Figure 2, the rigging shown and indicated by numerals l0 and I3 is the type usually termed three-quarter rigging. It will be easily understood that the lower loop of the stirrup has a very definite limit to its forward motion due to the fact that it becomes wedged between the forward rigging strap l0 and the bottom edge of rail 6, on the left side and similarly on the right side. When it is desired to brace the weight of the rider forward of the normal riding position, the movement of the stirrup leathers from their suspension on the rails, being hampered by the rigging, causes the leather to bend and swing forward from the above mentioned point of obstruction. This is uncomfortable to all types of riders. It is particularly tiresome to those not accustomed to riding. This is especially true when making long descents. Since the stirrup leather does not freely swing forward from the obstructed point on the level of the rails, it is necessary that the riders knee remain bent and he cannot fully brace himself to adequately support his weight in the stirrups. Riding with the knee flexed in this manner quickly tires the knee and causes the rider to ride the pommel in long descents and this is unnecessarily tiresome. The nearer the level of stirrup leather suspension can be brought to that of the riders hip joints the better he is able to ride the stirrups when desired, and brace his weight when making descents or sudden stops.

While other attempts have been made to mount the stirrup leathers above the rails of the saddle to attain these objects all have the common fault of causing a great deal of wear on the stirrup leathers due to their rigid construction and attachment. In these prior structures the edges of the stirrup leathers tend to out upon the supporting bars when swung. This is particularly true in the case of wide leathers used in Western saddle construction. Further, leathers looped over such bars attained a definite set or bend with the result that it was extremely difficult to adjust the length of the stirrups since a stirrup leather does not readily slide and reset itself to various positions.

It is also well known that stirrups have been mounted on loops or on swivels attached to the sides of the rails. In some instances these were positioned so that both loops of the stirrupleather could be mounted over the rigging. These devices have, for the most part, been unsatisfactory due to the fact that the .point of pivot was too far below the seat. With these the rider would still be compelled to ride with a bent knee, and nothing was gained over the old rail loop. Also, the distance between the point of support and the stirrup was so short that the stirrup leather could not be made with a sufiicient length to allow for adequate adjustment.

In the construction here shown, I have provided a combined strainer iron and clevis support Ill, which consists of a plate H having a width sufiicient to extend over the space 1 between the saddle tree rails and to be attached by screws I2 to each of the rails. Attached to and forming a part of this plate is a forwardly extending tongue i l, drilled at It in its forward end to receive a pivot pin. These parts are proportioned so that the axis of the pivot pin it is slightly forward of the center of the seat portion of the tree.

Clevises H and it constitute stirrup leather supports. from sheet steel. A blank provided with a central rectangular opening is folded over so that two adjacent plates 25) and 2i are formed. The rectangular opening then provides a notch 25 and a stirrup leather supporting bar 29 is positioned in the fold and welded to the loops 23 on each side of the notch. Stirrup leathers 28' are inserted through notches 25 in each clevis and looped over bars 2 Plates 2% and 21 are drilled to receive clevis pin 16 at a position slightly forward of the center of bars 24. The pin extends through both clevises and the tongue and is held in place by a pin or cotter 29. The

clevises are shaped as shown for left and right hand positions respectively, and the distances between the plates 2c and 2! are gauged so that those of the left hand clevis i8 encompass and bear on the upper and lower faces of tongue I4, while those of the right hand clevis ll bear upon the outer faces of the plates of clevis 8. The left stirrup is given more use than the right and, therefore, the plates of the left clevis stirrup leather are placed closest to the supporting tongue.

The outer edges of the plates 2% and 2i of the clevis are shaped and contoured so that, as they are pivoted forward, the edges of each one will avoid and not cut into the stirrup leathers looped over the bar of the other. These edges are shaped accordingly with reference to the axis of pivot on pin it. Rearward pivotal motion of each clevis from the central position is limited by contact of the stirrup leathers with the tongue M.

, From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a structure in which the two stirrup leather supporting clevises are mounted so as to swing freely forward in a horizontal plane above the top of the saddle tree rails. This closely approaches the level of the hip joint of the rider. When the plate it) is mounted, as shown, the bar supporting clevises may be postioned so that the point of pivot is at any desired position near or slightly forward of the center of the seat. The exact point of pivot is governed by the shape and style of the tree and the type of rigging used.

This device is first mounted on a saddle tree, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. After the plate II is screwed to the rails the seat is built up as indicated in section at 353, by layers of saddle leather having a tapering section, until the seat bottom is formed over the rails to the height desired. The forward edges of this built up seat bottom terminate in a lateral plane approximately coinciding with the forward edge of plate II and constitute a further stop to the rearward swing of the stirrups.

These clevises are preferably made An arched metal plate 3! is then positioned over the stirrup leather supporting clevises so that its rear edge rests upon this built up structure while its forward end is fastened by lugs 32 and screws to the pommel 4 on each side of the gullet 8. This metal plate may be termed the forward strainer iron. It is not shown in Figure 1 for the reason that it would obscure the view of the stirrup leather supports but its position is indicated by the dotted outline 3 ia. Its horizontal position is shown in Figures 2 and 3.

After the saddle tree has been prepared as above described the saddle construction is completed in the usual manner by attaching the seat cover, together with the other coverings and trappings. Stirrup leathers 28' are then looped over bars 24 of the clevises, with both folds over the rigging and beneath the seat cover.

Due to the above construction they will readily swing from a normal riding position, as indicated in solid lines, Figure 1, and dotted outline 23a, Figure 2, to the extreme forward position as indicated by dotted outlines 33, to attain the desired objects of my improvement. Their rearward swing, however, is limited both by contact of the stirrup leather with bar M, and by their contact with the seat bottom construction. Stirrup leathers may be made full length to secure maximum adjustment, and are easily looped over bars 24 without cutting or attaining any undesirable set so as to hinder adjustment.

Having thus fully described my improvements, together with the manner of their application and use, I wish to be limited only by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In saddle construction a saddle tree having pivotally mounted stirrup leather supporting members operatively positioned above approximately the center of the seat structure.

2. In saddle construction, in combination, a saddle tree having rails and a seat between pommel and cantle, means for supporting stirrup leathers including a tongue positioned above and midway between said saddle tree rails, a pair of clevises pivotally attached to the forward portion of said tongue, said clevises having bars over which stirrup leathers may be looped.

3. In saddle construction, in combination, a saddle tree having rails, stirrup leather supporting means including a plate attached on top of the rear portion of the rails within the seat portion of the tree, having a forwardly extending tongue attached thereto adapted to receive a clevis pin at its forward end, and a pair of stirrup leather supporting clevises pivotally attached to said tongue.

4. In saddle construction, in combination, a saddle tree having rails, stirrup leather supporting means including a plate attached on top of the rear portion of the rails within the seat portion of the tree, having a forwardly extending tongue attached thereto adapted to receive a clevis pin at its forward end, a pair of stirrup leather supporting clevises pivotally attached to said tongue, and a forward strainer iron attached to the pommel and extending ove said stirrup supporting means to form a base for the saddle seat cover.

EDDIE STEELE. 

